Parties in Putman case work on agreement

BAY CITY — The trial against “Meet the Putmans” star Brandon J. Putman was moved to next month as his defense attorney and prosecutors work on a potential resolution.

Putman, 33, was set to stand trial this week on charges of unlawfully receiving an unregistered firearm, unlawfully receiving or possessing a firearm, and receiving a firearm without a serial number.

However, U.S. District Judge Thomas L. Ludington granted a stipulation for adjournment of trial, which is now scheduled to begin March 19 in Bay City’s federal courthouse.

“The parties have been working on a potential resolution of the case that could obviate the need for a trial,” court records state. “However, the parties need additional time to pursue a course of action that could resolve the case.”

A plea cutoff date was set for Feb. 26 and a final pretrial is scheduled for March 5.

The case started November 2017 when federal agents were informed that Putman approached a machine shop owner in Elkton about duplicating a Drop-in Auto Sear (DIAS) for an AR-15.

DIAS's are used to convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic firearms, and are machine guns under U.S. law — which must be registered.

Federal agents said Putman wanted 10 duplicates of the DIAS, which would have cost him $100 each.

If convicted, Putman faces up to 10 years in federal prison for each count.

Putman was featured on the reality television show, "Meet the Putmans," on the TLC cable network. The show starred 26 family members living under one roof in Huron County.

A message to Putman’s defense attorney, Brian P. Lennon, seeking comment was not returned on Thursday.